FTC sues Gerber over claims on infant formula

Federal regulators are suing Gerber, the well-known baby food maker, for claiming that its Good Start Gentle formula can prevent or reduce allergies in children.

The Federal Trade Commission says that claim is bogus and that the New Jersey-based company misled consumers by suggesting that its formula was the first to meet government approval for reducing the risk of allergies. The FTC says it wants Gerber to pull its claim from formula labels and advertisements. It also wants Gerber to reimburse consumers who purchased the formula since 2011 when the claim began.

Gerber Products Co., also known as Nestlé Infant Nutrition, did not immediately respond to email and phone requests for comment. Gerber's website for the formula did not include the allergy claim as of Thursday.